Public Policy Report

Report prepared by Elaine Ostrowski, AAUW NC Public Policy Chair, for the April 16 AAUW NC Board Meeting.

1. AAUW NC participated in the first NC Women United (NCWU) Showcase event held March 11, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel RTP.  AAUW NC is a member of NCWU.  The event gave the NCWU member organizations an opportunity to network and to learn more about each other’s missions and priorities and to raise awareness of NCWU and its programs such as the Women’s Agenda Assembly and Women’s Advocacy Day. AAUW NC was one of the event sponsors with a $250 contribution and had a display table with AAUW literature for distribution.  AAUW attendees included Nancy Shoemaker, Sheila Bassoppo-Moyo,  Elaine Ostrowski, Mary Fran Schickedantz, Doris Bernlohr, Denny McGuire, Sue Mengert, Sue Metz, M. Cookie Newsom, Michelle Evans and Sonya Stafford.
2. The Executive Committee approved AAUW NC signing on to a letter sent by Planned Parenthood Central NC to county commissioners across the state opposing a recent movement to remove coverage for elective abortions from county health care plans.  Support for this matter is in conformance with the AAUW Public Policy Program which advocates for “Choice in the determination of one’s reproductive life.”
3. Equal Pay day is scheduled for April 20 which is the symbolic day when women’s wages catch up to men’s wages from the year before.   AAUW has several resources available to branches to download to help mark the day including Pay Equity Resource Kit, Equal Pay Day Program in a Box, and  AAUW “Women at a Discount” posters and stickers for use at AAUW events and meetings.  All branches were contacted by e-mail to remind them of the day and how to access these resources.
4. I participated in a conference call on March 16 with the AAUW staff and state public policy committee members from across the country to review AAUW resources available to promote public policy priorities at the grassroots level.
5. As approved in a prior Board meeting, an insert was developed for the 2009-2011 AAUW Public Policy brochure which provides information on North Carolina legislation supported by AAUW NC.  Thanks to Nancy Shoemaker for developing the insert.  The brochure with insert is available to attendees of the AAUW NC Convention in Charlotte.
6. AAUW NC will participate in NCWU’s Women’s Advocacy Day Program in connection with the short session of the NC Legislature which will begin meeting in May.  NCWU is considering alternatives to meeting in Raleigh on a specific day this year, such as having a virtual advocacy day or partnering with other organizations that are planning their own Advocacy Days.
7. In my role as Public Policy Chair, I attended AAUW Raleigh Branch meeting in January at their invitation to discuss the AAUW Public Policy Program and how the membership can participate in advocating for it.